Courtesy of site sponsor RobotKingdom, we have some new images of the Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece release of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus, and specifically of the collector coin that will accompany the Hasbro Asia (outside of Japan) releases of the new offering in the line.

You can find the image of the coin in its carded sleeve below, with the latter sporting the iconic Hot Rod chest / car hood flames, and the coin itself showing the Targetmaster name under Rodimus' face. Check it out, alongside some tiny robot Firebolt images too, which was first seen with the MP-9 version of the character!

Thanks to a heads up from our resident Takara expert Cyberpath, we now have some new in-hand images of the new Masterpiece MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus with Firebolt! The new masterpiece figure is a redeco of the original MP-28 mold, with fewer accessories and the added inclusion of his Targetmaster Firebolt, which itself is a redeco of the Hasbro exclusive masterpiece that came with Hasbro's Rodimus Prime. The new paint work is also based on the Generation 1 3-part episode "The Rebirth."

Check out all the new in hand images, courtesy of げんもん Photo Vault and アルフェス2010：ひげひげ休止. Let us know what you think of this Msaterpiece in the comments section below!

Thanks to a tip from fellow Seibertronian Cyberpath, we have a couple more in-hand images of Takara Tomy's latest figure in the Transformers Masterpiece line compared to a previous iteration of the same character (and mold, really): MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus with Targetmaster Firebolt, joined my MP-28 Hot Rodimus.

This set below, via Japanese toy bloggers Alfes2010 and Kazumasa_yskn, is to be enjoyed accompanied by the previous batch of images reported on here! You can see there are a couple of differences, especially the darker hue of the latest version of the character - but are they enough to make you double dip, or were you waiting for this version anyway? Let us know in the Energon Pub discussion boards!

its a bit funny that takara that has this target master Hotrod when Hotrod was never a targetmaster in the japanese only Headmasters show only ended up being Rodimus Prime again
but still a nice rendition though

Rodimus Prime wrote:My only complaint about the TM version is the white on the crotch piece. If it was orange or burgundy like the rest of it, it would be fine. Otherwise, MP-40 looks better than MP-28 color scheme wise.

We have AKOM to thank for that, with their tendency to misinterpret Hot Rod's crotch piece as being his car mode's windshield:

Rodimus Prime wrote:My only complaint about the TM version is the white on the crotch piece. If it was orange or burgundy like the rest of it, it would be fine. Otherwise, MP-40 looks better than MP-28 color scheme wise.

We have AKOM to thank for that, with their tendency to misinterpret Hot Rod's crotch piece as being his car mode's windshield:

I don't think that AKOM misinterpreted Hot Rod's pelvis though, they were just working off the colour guides that Sunbow had supplied them (usually outdated ones compared to TOEI, and to the other studio in season 2.) I don't think that AKOM came up with their own decos. Perhaps this implies that at some point in the design-process Hot Rod's windshield area transformed into his pelvis.

Preliminary Rodimus Prime model cel.

The "unknown studio" received even older models for some of the characters in season 3 (Starscream's Ghost; Only Human.)

Fellow Seibertronian chuckdawg1999, speedy as ever, has shared with us a new video review, this time focusing on the latest release in the Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece line - that is to say, MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus with Firebolt!

The figure is shown next to the previous version of the mold, MP-28 Hot Rodimus, to get a better idea of the new deco, other differences, and in both robot and vehicle mode, along with the different accessories, Targetmaster included. You can check out the video embedded below, and join the discussion in the Energon Pub!

[quote] Targetmaster Hot Rodimus is a strange figure, based on its appearance in The Rebirth mini-series that ended the G1 cartoon in the US. Most fans consider the color pallet used a mistake but I quite like it as it differentiates pre and post Rodimus Prime Hot Rod. While I can't say it's a definite purchase, the inclusion of Firebolt from the Hasbro US release MP-09, makes this figure worth a look.[/quote]

So with this out I was reminded of something about the mold when I needed to use the instructions to reference a small point. Namely, if you follow the included instructions verbatim, you're going to have a tougher time than you should transforming the backpack. Instead of having no fun at all, I've prepared a tutorial on an alternate transformation sequence that is much easier and importantly, more fun. I put this up on Twitter last night and figured I should mirror the content here for the enjoyment of those not on one of the machines leading to society's downfall.

Let's do this!

Text of what to do is right below the corresponding image. This one's just saying hey, here's the robot guy! He says to follow your instructions for the part where you start with the car until the point a bit after you've folded out the hands.

You're going to get to a step that looks like this. This is where you should throw your instructions in the trash! Ok don't do that, you'll need them later.

The first thing you should do here is reverse that decision it had you make to fold down the collar pieces. Trust me here, do this (unless you have tiny hands, and I mean teeny tiny. Because I have tiny hands.)

Now undo the two halves of the car roof on that pivot joint. Note the small hole on the front half towards the rear of the windshield. We're about to use that hole.

Leave the shoulders alone! Remember, we're ignoring Takara's instructions. Go ahead and plug in the back of the neck to the windshield. You may have to wiggle some stuff near the waist to get it aligned right. Also, this is where you'll find out if you transformed his head correctly. Hope you did, I'm not covering that.

Now for the reason this is actually better! This is where you plug the shoulders in to the side of the windshield. Note the backpack out of the way. You'll have clearance to get your fingers in there to secure a tight fit. I know what I said. You took it there, not me.

Once both shoulder panels are clipped into the sides of the window, you can put the collar pieces back down.

If you stare really hard you'll notice this photo skips ahead a touch. That's because I originally didn't push the collar pieces down far enough and took a picture later on which I cropped instead of undoing things. Regardless, push them down as far as they need to. They'll go, but be careful. You shouldn't have to push too hard.

Now start assembling the backpack. I think you see what to do here, but refer to the instructions for the details of this if needed.

Now fold the pivot joint down through the vertical clearance. If you're keeping score, the instructions have you do this well before now. Bad instructions, bad!

Almost done here. Aim for these two posts in his tramp stamp region. It's a technical term. Yep.

Kapowee! You just sold a car.

Not really but now you can go back to your official instruction manual for the legs. Hope that helps you have more fun with Transformers

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